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Firefighters wrote encouraging messages to Nona in a book they brought for her last week.

Whatcom County Fire District 18 Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald

They arrived in a fire engine, ambulance and other vehicles with their emergency lights on, Mejia said. They also brought $500 for Nona and her mom to help make the holidays a little happier.

“We told her that we have her back no matter what,” Mejia said. “We tried our best to save her best friend. It was an effort to show our support.”

Nona and her mother, Kami Dodd, lost the Deerhaven Lane house where they were living Dec. 3 to a fire that started in the bathroom. Her dog Maude died in the fire, but firefighters were able to save and revive three kittens in the home, Mejia said.

Kami and Nona, who weren’t home when the fire started, lost all their possessions. A GoFundMe effort has raised some $10,415 as of Monday.

A photo at Seattle DogSpot shows Nona and Maude, a smiling pit bull, at Christmas in happier times.

“The community has really come together to help out,” Mejia said. “They’re doing better but they can always use more help.”

In addition to the GoFundMe account, donations can be brought to 664 Rainbow Drive between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays in the Glenhaven area.

Bellingham Herald reporter Robert Mittendorf is a volunteer firefighter with South Whatcom Fire Authority, which helped fight the December 3 fire.

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